Brenda Page: Man goes on trial accused of 1978 Aberdeen murder
- Published
Brenda Page died in 1978
An 82-year-old man has gone on trial accused of murdering his former wife 45 years ago in Aberdeen.
The body of Brenda Page, 32, was found in the city's Allan Street in July 1978.
Christopher Harrisson denies murder, assault, breach of the peace, and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
The trial, at the High Court in Aberdeen, is expected to last up to three weeks.
In agreed evidence, the jury was told that Brenda Page was found in her nightdress lying on her bed, covered in blood and lifeless.
She had suffered multiple injuries to her head.
The jury was told she was born in Ipswich, and met Mr Harrisson in about 1970 in Glasgow and they started a relationship.
They married two years later in Ipswich but she began divorce proceedings in 1976.
The court heard the divorce was granted in October 1977.
Ms Page's older sister Rita Ling, 88, told the court her sister thought Mr Harrisson was stalking her.
Mrs Ling said her sister described her relationship with Mr Harrisson as "like walking on eggshells" - "he was unpredictable, could be very nice or very nasty".
Escort work
Ms Page was principal of the genetics department at the University of Aberdeen Medical School.
Mrs Ling said her sister had started another job as an escort.
She told advocate depute Alex Prentice, prosecuting for the Crown: "I think she was quite hard up."
Mrs Ling said it was "good money," adding her sister loved going out to nice restaurants.
She said she expressed concerns, but that Ms Page's reply had been "typically sisterly" - "you're old fashioned".
Mr Harrisson is accused of assaulting Brenda Page on various occasions and in various locations between 1972 and 1976.
He is also accused of breach of the peace by threatening violence to her and placing her in a state of fear and alarm for her safety, including at the genetics department of the University of Aberdeen Medical School.
It is alleged that between 1976 and 1978 he also committed a breach of the peace by threatening to kill her and keeping track of her movements.
He is accused of murder by forcing entry to her flat in Allan Street on 14 July 1978 and repeatedly striking her on the head and body with a blunt implement.
Mr Harrisson is further accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of a watch, and a bag and contents including a pair of shoes, with the intent to destroy forensic evidence and to avoid detection and prosecution.
Brian McConnachie, defending, said Mr Harrisson denied all the charges, and had lodged a special defence of alibi to the murder charge, stating at the time of the alleged crime he was at home.
The trial, being presided over by judge Lord Richardson, continues on Wednesday.